Policy to preserve farm land needed: Pranab

There is need for a policy on preserving farm land and taking green revolution to new states, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday.

"The country currently produces 230-235 million tonnes of foodgrains while the current demand is 210-215 million tonnes and growing. As per projections, by 2030 the population will increase to 150 crore," Mukherjee said while speaking at the MoU signing ceremony for beautification of the Hooghly river front.

"To meet this situation, we need a policy for preserving land for agriculture and green revolution in more states," he said.

"We have received the benefits of the second green revolution, but it had covered only Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh and the Godavari and Kaveri belt," he said.

The finance minister said that the ministry had sanctioned a token Rs 350 crore toward green revolution in the eastern region.

"Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar will meet chief ministers of the eastern region tomorrow where I will also be present," Mukherjee said.